90 SR[ITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 66 



The mound (fig. 113) covering' the ruined walls of the Sun Temple 

 dates back to 1555, as indicated by a cedar tree having 360 annual 

 " rings " which was found growing on the top of the highest wall. 

 There is no way of telling how much earlier the mound was formed 

 or how many years before it became a mound the foundations of the 

 building were laid. It is, however, believed that worshi]) at the sun 

 shrine undoubtedlv antedated the construction of the building. 



Fig. iij. — Sun Temple from point across Fewkes Canyon, Mesa Verde 

 National Park, Colorado. Photograph by T. G. Lemmon. 



The Sun Temple was probably built by the neighboring cliff- 

 dwellers and is regarded as more modern than Cliff Palace. The 

 unity of plan shown in the Sun Temple (fig. 115) indicates union of 

 several clans in its construction and the existence of a higher social 

 organization than at Cliff" Palace. It was intended for a ceremonial 

 building with a secondary purpose of storage and refuge in time of 

 trouble, but shows evidence that it was never finished. 



A cliff-ruin called by guides Willow House, but which might 

 better be known as Oak-tree House, is a typical cliff'-dwelling of 

 about the same aue and culture as Cliff Palace. It is situated in 



